Advisor of Middle East

MARIWAN HALABJAYI

Mariwan Halabjayi was born on 01/08/1963 in Iraqi Kurdistan. He is an acclaimed Kurdish writer, religious critic and public advocate for basic human rights, a role he has held for over three decades. With his extensive portfolio of 17 books, countless articles, and over 400 hours of "Video Essays" that he creates in a home studio for security reasons and lack of platform, Halabjayi has explored and criticized the suppression of human rights in the name of religions.

Through an in-depth understanding of religious texts, he has focused on Islam as catalysts for terrorism and oppression, especially against women. His book "Sex, Sharia, and Women in Islam" is perhaps the most controversial, but also the most necessary to create debate and understanding around topics that are taboo in many societies.

Although he has paid a high personal price in the form of death threats, both in Kurdistan and in Europe, Halabjayi has never put an end to his freedom of speech. He has also been the subject of demonisation, including fatwas calling for his death, that issued by extremist religious leaders from organizations such as ISIS and from countries such as Iran.

He has often encountered hostility and open fury when he has engaged in public speeches and seminars. He lives under constant threat of physical attack or even death by individuals who have taken offense at his sober criticism of aspects of Islamic theology.

Radical Islamist groups, as well as high-profile Islamist personalities, have repeatedly resorted to fabricating stories about his past in an attempt to tarnish his reputation. Imams at mosques have also used Friday sermons to discredit Halabjayi, some of these religious leaders have even issued fatwas proclaiming that Sharia law dictates that Halabjayi and his wife be forcibly divorced, and that his wife and sixteen-year-old daughter be captured and used as sex slaves.

In the period of February and March 2006, a massive demonstration broke out against the author Mariwan Halabjaee, when thousands of Islamic groups members took to the streets of the cities of Sulaymaniyah and Erbil, they protest against his writing of books that criticizing Islam, they burned his house and car and demanded his death.

The author's ability to leave the house or travel is very limited, and that means a forced prisoner, the author was the main reason why Mullah Krekar and his group were exposed and convicted as terrorists, putting the author's life in further danger.

Despite this, Halabjayi has continued his critical work, his writings and debates have created space for discussion and change, especially among women and young people of Kurdish origin. Halabjayi has thus not only paid the price for his own freedom of expression but has made it possible for others to raise their voice against oppression.

It is sad to recognize that Halabjayi, as a champion of freedom of expression and human rights, himself has to live under constant threat and deprivation of liberty. His life and work illustrate the grim reality for those who dare to speak freely in Islamic societies.

Mariwan Halabjayi is a man of unparalleled courage and strength, who through his work has initiated a rebellion in the mindset of many young people. He defends freedom of speech and religion, not only for himself but also for others.

Demonstration in Iraq

PROFILE OF

MARIWAN HALABJAYI

• In 1963 he was born in the city of Sulaymaniyah.

• In 1963 in the same year after his birth, his father was executed for political reasons by the Iraqi authority at that time

• In 1967 he entered the orphanage until 1978.

• In 1978 he finished middle school and joined the Peshmerga forces.

• In 1979 he was wounded in one of the battles and was imprisoned by the government.

• In 1980 was sentenced to death but was released in 1982 by a general amnesty.

• In 1982 he completed his school education in prison, but due to a special decision, he did not receive his diploma.

• In 1984 he was imprisoned again for over two years.

• In 1987 married (Now he has a wife, three sons and one daughter)

• In 1988 he was imprisoned for the third time, more than a year.

• In 1993 he became an employee in one of the departments of the Ministry of Culture.

• In 2006 until now He, his wife and four children have been living in Norway. In 2010 to now protected by police.

BOOKS OF

MARIWAN HALABJAYI

1. Woman, Angel or Satan. 2024

2. Religions and education in schools. 2016 it has been published 3 times until now.

3. Critical reading of Islam has been translated from Arabic to Kurdish language. 2007 it has been published 3 times until now.

4. Sex, Sharia and Women in the History of Islam . about the extremism in Islam and how to deal with it. 2005 it has been published 13 times until now

5. The Gods. Worship, Sacrifice, Fourth Edition. 2004 it has been published 4 times until now

6. Fourth Book (Christianity) 2003 it has been published 9 times until now

7. The third book (Jainism) 2003.

8. The second book Buddhism 2002 it has been published 7 times until now.

9. The first book (Hinduism) 2002 it has been published 5 times until now.

10. Buddhism between religion and philosophy 2001. Doorway of religion from the earth to the heavens, this research has four books.

11. Propaganda and Media in a religious community 1999.

12. Iron Woman, On Women's Rights 1998 it has been published 5 times until now.

13. Superstitions in the societies 1997 it has been published 2 times until now

14. Mysterious power (Parapsychology) 1995

15. Medicine. The Play 1992

16. Laugh. Short Stories 1988

17 I'm the wings you fly, Poetry 1987